The 2016 New York African Film Festival: Modern Days, Ancient Nights

The 23rd New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) opens Sunday, May 1st with an interactive town hall meeting at the Amphitheater of Film Society of Lincoln Center. The inaugural event, Digital Diaspora Family Reunion Roadshow, will invite participants of all backgrounds to share an on-screen narrative

The23rd New York African Film Festival(NYAFF) opensSunday, May 1st with an interactive town hall meeting at the Amphitheater of Film Society of Lincoln Center.The inaugural event,Digital Diaspora Family Reunion Roadshow, will invite participants of all backgrounds to share an on-screen narrative of family stories with the audience. This experience aims to both bridge together and expose the latent connections that are at the base of common humanity.

The event will continue withArt & Activism: Personal Journeys, a panel discussion during which acclaimed creatives from the Diaspora, including photographerDelphine Fawundu, actress-educatorMalikaLee Whitney, and musician Ayoinmotion, will participate in the interactive family reunion program.

Following Sunday’s town hall meeting, the festival’s opening night onWednesday, May 4th will feature the filmTanna (pictured above)—a love story set during an intertribal war in the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, directed by Bentley Dean and Martin Butler.

The multitude of film screenings held at the Francesca Beale Theatre during the festival include Manthia Diawarra’s Negritude: A Dialogue Between Wole Soyinka and Senghor, Charlie Vundla’s Cuckold(South Africa), Nana Obiri Yeboah and Maximilian Claussen’s The Cursed Ones(UK/Ghana), Roy T. Anderson’s Queen Nanny: Legendary Maroon Chieftainess(Jamaica), and many more.

A festival schedule packed with a week of inspiring and eye-opening films, the New York African Film Festival is not to be missed.

Feature image courtesy of Film Society Lincoln Center

New York, NY – Nkem is an inquisitive and enthusiastic believer who’s always looking for inspiration. She thrives in discomfort and believes the journey is worth the destination. Follow her on Instagram @nkemster & Twitter @nkemistry